"I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing is tolerated," Haggis said. The Church of Scientology of San Diego had, without being denounced by the larger church, backed California's Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage.

And that's some of the mild stuff.

The letter -- written in August to Tommy Davis, Scientology's director of public affairs and son of actress and Scientologist Anne Archer -- was supposed to be private, a Haggis rep told the Associated Press.

That would've been the polite thing to do, I suppose, but with Haggis ranting in the letter not only about gay rights but also regarding some alleged church practices that have been quite controversial -- well, some secrets just don't like to be kept, do they?

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Director-writer Paul Haggis at the Artists for Peace and Justice party on Sept. 11, 2009, during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Credit: Jag Gundu / Getty Images